
Class 



Book - 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



Southern Illinois, 



ITS CLlMfiTE. SOIL, ^-.ir^^ 

AGRICULTURE. HORTICULTURE, 
.-^^ MflNUFKCTURES 

AND 

HMiNERHL RESOURCES^ 

Witl^ a (Buir^rriapy of tl^e 
^d;Vai^iDageS of 

MAggA^S €®HNTY. 

BY 

ID- IT- ^'-R.EElls^^IT- 

(Copyright reserved,) 



Metropolis, Illinois, 
JOURNAL-REPUBLICAN PRINT, 

1892. 



Southern iLUNOia 



ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, ^-^-4^^ 

i SGRICULTQRE, HORTICULTURE, 
^^-^i MflNUFSCTURES 

AND • 

-H MINERAL RESOURCES t- 



Witt;» a Surqir^apy of tl^e 
^1,''^ ^dT;ai^tageS of 

mM&m e@HNTY. 






(Copyright reserved,) 



.M K'liLoj'oijs, Illinois, 
JOrUXAL-RKPrHLrCAX IMMNT 



^'i' 



cim 



^^ 




'^1 5 



<^ ii 



^ 





■fil c; 


. . , 


:5« P. 


- --i—'i i] ' 


^^il'l' 


t m 


JiSi" 


1 ^ 


ill'" 


'i\ >♦ 



:.l^ 







INTRODUCTORY. 

The [mrp().s(i of this paiu[)lil('t is to give eor- 
re"t and reliable iut'Drmation \n regard to the 
abundant and varied resources of Southern Illi- 
nois, Also to de-^eribe the general features of the 
country, its climate, soil, rivers and streams; its 
agriculture, sto-dv-raising, hortulture and miner- 
al resources. 



HISTORY. 

Settled by tlie French as early as Kwo; and 
held by them until 17{)2, except for a short time 
when Si)ain had posession; it was taken by the 
British and held by them until 1878, when Gen. 
George Rogers Clark marched his army, of about 
200, trom Ft. Massac, near iMetropolis, across the 
wilderness to Kaskaskia. The inhabitants were 
taken bjk surprise, surrendered at once and Ft. 
Chartres and Cahokia soon followed, and has 
remained in posession of the United States ever 
since. 

A few of Clark's men remained and others 
came in,and in 1800 there were about 3,000 whites 



ill the whole state of Illinois, mostly in Southern 
division. The tirst organization was under Arthur 
St. Clair, who went to Kaskaskia in 1790 as 
Governor of the new Territory, whieii extended 
at that time, as far east as Pennsylvania. In- 
180D the Territory of Illinois was set apart. In 
1812 the first Legislature was convened and a 
delegate to Congress was chosen. In 1818 it was 
received as the 22d State, with a population of 
15,000, nearly all in thi-n Southern division. From 
that time to the present the growth has been 
steady and the people generally prospL»rous and 
contented. 

When properly understood a glory instead 
of a reproach. A misconstruction of the signi- 
ficance of this name has given to many the idea 
that it represents darkness. 

The term originated among the early settlers 
of territories farther north, who w^ere frequently 
obliged to come to tliis fertile country for food, 
as did the Israelites of old, to the land of Egyj)t. 
Hence, the name is our pride — not our shame. 
Descriptive. 

The Third Grand Division of the State con- 
sists of thir,ty-four counties, beginning with Craw- 
ford (HI the East side, crossing in an almost direct 
line to Madison on the West, including all the 
Southern end of the State, and ccmtaining an 
area of 15^1^121 square miles. 

This territory lies between 37 degrees and \\\) 
degrees 15 minutes North Latitude. (The same 
as between Baltimore, Md., and Petersburg, Va.) 
It will be seen that it lies much farther South 
than any other Northern State,except C- lifornia, 
and as the elevation at Cairo is but 300 feet, the 
climate is much milder than on the same Par- 
allel either East or West. 

This section of country is bounded on the 



East by (I»e \Val)Msli rivei*, on tae South aini 
.South-east by the Ohio river and on th.- Wesi by 
the Mississippi river. 

Just one-lialf of these thirty-four counties 
front on these three navijj^able rivers, with an 
averau:e fronta<j:e of about thirty miles for eaeii 
country. Thus furnishin*^- almost unparallek'd 
shiping- facilities. 

Here is a c<uinty capable of producinu" almost 
every article needed by civilized man. It has 
mines of coal, iron, lead, silver and spar. 
Quarries of marble, stone and fire-clay. Wells 
and springs of mineral waters in great variety, 
including salt. Forests of the best timber, and a 
diversified soil, adapted to the producing of all 
the furite and cereals of the temperate zone. 

It has been well said, 'If a great wall were 
built around ^E^gypt' cutting off all communica- 
tion with the outrjide world, the inhabitants 
would not suffer any great inconvenience, as 
they could produce everything necessary for 
their comfort, ^md very many of the luxuries." 
Elevation. 
Cairo is :M) ffet above the Gulf of .^fexico. 
In going North there is a gradual rise until South 
Pass (Cobden) is reached, where the Illinois Cen- 
tral railroad depot is on a level with I.ake :\nchi- 
gan. The Ozark range, which crosses tiu" Shite 
here, is much higher, some j)eaUs reaching an 
altitude of SOO feet, which is the highest land in 
this section except a range of mounds, some :^() 
miles East of St. Louis. 

Eagle mountain on the East side, in Saline 
a)Kl Hardin counties has an elevation of 600 feet. 
This is the Xorthern branch of the Ozarks. The 
center of the range, striki.ig the Ohio river near 
Golconda, Pope county, attain near 600 feet in 
highth, and the Southern spur ,.vhich crosses the 



Ohio ;it Grniid C'linin, Pulaski county, has an 
altitude of nearly 500 feet. Tlie averajie eleva- 
tion, north of this ranj^e, is between 500 and 600 
feet. 

Drainage. 

Besides the three la r*ie river-;, whieh almost 
surround the territory under consideration, the 
country is drained by numerous smaller rivers, 
at least five of vvhicn ire navij^able for consider- 
able distance, in goivd stages oi water. These are 
the Little Wab.ish Mud Saline on the East, the 
Cache on the South, and the Big' Muddy and 
Kaskaskia, or Okavv, on the West. 

There are many other considerable streams, 
some of them worlny of being called rivers. 
The Embarras and Bonpas emptying into the 
Wabash; BigCrcek, Grand Pierre, l.usk, Bay and 
.ATassac creeks discharging their waters into the 
Ohio; and Wo(ul rivers, Cahokia and Shoal creek 
flow into the Mississi{)pi. Besides these, there 
are numerous tributary sti'eams, which form a 
perfect system of drainage. 

Climate. 

The average temperature at St. Louis is 55 
degrees. The warm breath of the Gulf flows u\) 
the valley of the Mississippi — a veritable "Gulf 
Stream," The traditional "oldest inhabitant" 
has seen the Ohio river frozen over between 
Cairo and Paducah, Ky., (50 miles) but once, the 
river being extremely low wdien winter closed in. 
Southern cane grows to the highth of 25 feet on 
the North bank of the Ohio, and the Magnolia 
Grandifiora and Crape Myrtle of the Gulf States, 
flourish here without winter protection. Thous- 
ands of bales of cotton were grown in these 
lower counties in the years immediately follow- 
ing the war. 

But while we raise almost every product of 



the temperate zone, we claim a special adapt- 
ability for man.y leading crops. The diversified 
climate giving a mui*h greater variety of pro- 
ducts, than the two degrees of latitude would in- 
dicate. Less snow falls at Cairo than at Knox- 
ville, Tenn., yet the climate varies but little from 
that point, the difference of latitude being offset 
by 1,000 feet of elevation. 

In the extreme Southern counties wheat is 
frequently harvested in May, an I it is a quite 
common practice to raise two crops of Irish po- 
tatoes on the same land in a season. 

The average rainfall at Cairo is 55 inches. 
At Ft. Riley, Kans., it is 21.90 inches. 

Soil. 

The soil is greatly varied, which, instead of 
being a detriment, has proveii of the greatest ad- 
vantage, as it is adapted to the production ot 
almost evt-ry variety of grain, grass and fruit. 
Each variety of soil has been found to be especi- 
ally adapted to some particular crop. 

Some of the thin clay lands, which were con- 
sidered of but little value, when corn was the 
principal crop of the early settlers, are now the 
most valuabale lands in the State, and thousands 
of acres are being set to apple orchards, every 
year. The sand ridges of the bottom lands, which 
would not produce corn, are found to be un- 
equaled for melon growing. 

Adjacent to the rivers and creeks, the soil is 
of alluvial formation, and of unknown depth, in 
many places, and is practically inexhaustable, as 
is proven by the "American Bottom'* lands of 
the Mississippi river, some of which have been 
cultivated, (almost exclusively to corn) for more 
than two centuries. Also on the Ohio and Wa- 
bash rivers, are lands which have been continu- 
ously cropped for near one hundred years, with- 



outtlie use of any fertilizer whatever. 

The prairies adjacent 1o the Aiiierh'an Dot- 
tom are deep and bhtck limestone so I. I^ast of 
tlie Okaw river the soil is principaHy '-lay loam, 
of a g:rayish color, which is the predoiinnaiit 
shade of both prairie and timlier lands. The t lay 
subsoil conies near the surface, in many places, 
and in the early settlement of the country these 
lands were considered of int'eiior quality^ but in 
recent years they have i-ome t«) the front in the 
production of wln^at and a|)i))('s. 

It mi^ht be supposed that the rout^her lands 
of the Ozark range, which s{)read out in fan- 
shape, soon after crossinjjf the Mississippi river 
from Missouri, and extend tlirough several coun- 
ties, would naturally be poor jind barren, as is 
often the case with regions of mountainous 
nature. But such is not the fact. The very to))s 
Forests. 

The somewhat prevalent idea that Illinois is 
one vast |)rairie, similar to the Dakotas, is a great 
mistake, as these thirty-four counties were 
originally more than one half heavily timbered. 
It is sixty miles north of Cairo to the tirst small 
prairie, and one hundred miles to trie south end 
of the Grand Prairie. These luxuriant forests 
consist of the various species of oak, black and 
white walnut, white and yellow poplar, (t:ulip) 
hard and soft nniple, gum, ash, black and honey 
locust,all the different varieties of hickory,iinden, 
sycamore, cottonwood, pecan, persimmon, beech, 
sassafras, mulberry, red cedar, catalpa, and in 
the extreme southern part, the cypress. 

The undergrowth is dogwood, red bud, or 
Judas tree, pawj)aw, hazel, sumac, buckeye, 
si)ice\\()od, grape, wild plum, crabai)ple, etc. 
There are vast forests of this tine tind>er stand- 
'\\\iX and awaiting the manufacturer. Many mills 
and factories aiv in operation, but there is room 



and material for hundreds more. 

The oak is not excelled anywhere and offers 
great inducements to the manufacturer of Agri- 
cultural implements; also for car works a ul 
steamboat building-. The hickory is of the finest 
quality for the manufacture of carriage and wa- 
gon materia], ax handles, &Q, 

Sweet, or red gum, which is' but little known, 
has a great future before it. Until quite recently 
it wns not appreciated, but is now being largely 
used as a finishing lu'nbe;, being very fine 
grained, beautifully variegated, and almost as 
Jumdsome as rosewood, and attains its highest 
perfection in this region. 

Geology. 

This section is nearly all included in the 
Carboniferous system, upper and lower. 

The extreme northern portion of the Terti- 
ary system of the Gulf States reaches north of 
the Ohio River. Its out-crops is restricted to the 
counties of Alexander, Pulaski, Massac and Pope. 

The Chalk Blulf formation, beginning in the 
north of Alexander county and extending to 
near the Big Muddy in Jackson, from thence 
bearing east, is a portion of the Devonian system. 

Coal. 

The great coal measure covers all the terri- 
tory east and north of a line beginning near 
East St. Louis, and bearing south parallel with 
the blufts of the Mississippi river, leaving out 
the greater })art Monroe county and extending 
to the Big Muddy, in Jackson county. Thence 
bearing east, in an irregul.r line, to the mouth 
of the Saline river, on the Ohio. 

The veins crop out in many places a;ong 
this southerii line, then j_'radually dip to the 
north. At Du Quion and Belleville it is about 
60 feet below the surface, while in Marion county 



it is from 500 to 850 feet below. North and east 
of this vein is considered too deep to be profit- 
ably worked at present. 

The deposit varies in thickness from three 
to nine feet. The general average of the mines 
being about seven feet. There aie frequently 
two or niore veins on the southeast border, there 
are five separate veins of a combined thickness 
of 19 feet two inches, the thinest benig three feet. 
While the coal is all Bituminious, there is much 
difference in the quality. No. 2, ot the Big 
Muddy, in the vicinity of Murphysboro, is con- 
sidered surperior to most others, being a different 
starla, and resembling the "Brier Hill" of Ohio. 
The development of Southern Illinois' coal inter- 
ests is yet in its infancy. No other section of the 
same area, on the face of the earth, can compare 
with this in the extent and value of its coal 
deposits. 

Stone. 

Throughout this entire section of country 
excellent building stone (lime-stone and sand- 
stone) abounds. The quarries at Alton and 
Chester being most noted of those at present 
developed on the Mississippi, Golconda, Rose 
Clare and others on the Ohio river, besides great 
numbers in the interior, notably, those near 
Carbondale and Shoal Creek. 

A fine variegated, crystaline limestone, 
which takes a fine polish, and is locally known 
as"Cape Girardeam Marble,"is found in Alexander 
and Union counties. • 

Lime Kills are numerous and furnish lime 
of the very best quality, which is largely 
exported. This is one of the growing, remuner- 
ative industries. For street paving there is no 
better material than the Chert of Alexander 
county and the gravel of Massac, which contains 



about 20 per cent, of iron and cements in solid 
mass. 

Inexhau,-*table beds of fireclay are found in 
almost every county, and is being: extensively 
manufactured into fire brick, tile and a very 
superior quality of stoneware. 

Recently a mountain of chalk was discovered 
in Union county, of great purity, and in immense 
quantities. 

Larofe deposits of pure silica have lately 
been found in the same section. 
Iron. 

The only deposits of Iron which have b^en 
developed, are ihose of Hardin county. The 
ores worked were larely surface deposits,and the 
limonite of the St. Louis limestone denosit. 
Kidney, pipe and other ores abound in 8aline, 
Hardin, Pope and other counties, south and 
west. 

The "Illinois Furnace" was built in 1837 and 
run until the commencement of the war. The 
"Martha Furnace" was in operatin about ten 
years. Their daily capacity was about ten tons 
each, for the very best grade of metal. When all 
the timber near them had been used in making 
charcoal they were abandoned. As it is but 
fifteen miles acioss the Eagle mountains to beds 
of conking coal they will l)e brought together 
by a railroad which has been surveyed. 

There are fine openings for investment of 
capital in this region. 

Other Minerals. 

Extensive veins o( lead and fleur-spare were 
discovered as early as 1820 near Rose Clare, 
Hardin county. Thes^i have been developed to 
a limited extent, and the lead found to (contain 
from $15.00 to $18.00 per ton of siiver. 

Three mines are in operation, which ship 



a:.out 1000 barrels of fleur-spar per week. Lead 
is not mined at tlie present. Copper, also, is 
found in this re^-ion, but has not been developed 
for laek of transportation facilities. 
Natural Gas. 

Strong' indications ol natural i^as exist in 
many parts of this section, but wells have been 
opened only at Sparta, Randolph county. The 
supply is immense and is being utilized in every 
conceivable way. Mills and factories are lun 
witii it at less than one-third the expen e of 
coal. A proposition has been made to pipe it fo 
St. Louis a distance of forty miles. No doubt 
there will be wells opened at oth^^r points of this 
region in the near future. 

Mineral Waters. 

Mineral springs are numerous and liberally 
patronized, which is proof of their efRcacy in 
curing "all the ills that flesh is heir to." Among- 
those which have been improved and become 
noted are Saylor, in Clay county, Green's, at 
Mt. Vernon, Jefferson county, Creal, in William- 
son county, Dixon in Pope county. West Sara- 
toga, in Union county. These and many others 
have been tested for many years and found very 
efficient in the cure of various disc ses. 
Salt, 

In the early part of the century the salt 
woi'ks on the Saline river, in Gallatin and Saline 
counties, were the most extensive in the western 
country, and are capable of being profitably 
worked at present. The brine is of sufficient 
strength, and fuel, both wood and coal is abund- 
ant. There are many sail springs in this 
locality. Also in Jackson county and many 
other places. The only works in operation are 
those at St. Johns, Perry county, where with the 
brine and coal brought up under the same roof 
salt is profitably manufactured in large quan- 



titles Strongs salt water, in connection with the 
natural gus lately discovered at Sparta, will 
doubtless soon be utilized. 

Agriculture. 

Wheat — Early in the century it was known 
and demonstrated, that the counties adjacent to 
St. Louis, and perhaps it would be correct to say 
that about one-third of the northern and western 
counties, were well adapted to winter wheat 
cidture, and, as a natural result, land cop;- 
nianded a o-ood price. But later it has been 
proven that the hard-pan prairies of the northern 
counties, tuid the post oak lands of the more 
southern sections, which had been considered of 
but little vdue, except for g-razinc?, were almost 
as valuable for the production of wheat as the 
deeper soils, and are now yielding- crops of from 
25 to 40 bushels per acre. The grain being- of the 
very best' quality. 

When the grand prize of the Centennial 
Exposition of 1876 was awarded to wheat which 
had been grown on the Ozark hills, 50 miles 
north of Cairo, it caused consi<lerable astonish- 
ment. Hundreds of acres, which were considered 
exhausted under the old system of cultivation 
have been reclaimed, and are now producing 
fine crops of this cereal. 

Many instances could be cited, of growing- 
fifteen or twenty crops of wheat, ir. succession 
no fertilizer being used, with no diminution of 
yields, but, on the contrary, an increase each 
year. This would be an utter impossibility in 
almost any other section, but our soil, when 
judiciously tilled, is constantly increasing in 
fertility. Throughout this entire territory, there 
is scarcely a county which cannot cite instances 
of a yield of 40 bushels, or more, per acre. In 
many cases as high as 50 has been reached. 

While there are, occasionally, short ( rops, 



tliere has nevpr been a failure, as is so frequent 
in many of the newer western states and 
territories. 

Thousand of acres of vvlieat huid, have been 
and still can be bought for less than tl e value of 
one crop grown on them. The quality of the 
grain is shown by the eagerness of the mills 
of St. Louis, Evansville, Nashville, Tenn., and 
those of other cities, to secure our wheat, for 
mixing with that of other sections. Flour made 
from the wheat of Soutliern Illinois ranks in all 
the markets as strictly first quality. 

Corn — From tiie earliest French settlement 
of more than two centuries ago, "Egypt" has 
been noted for the production of corn, not only 
for home consumption, but vast quantities are 
annually shipped to southern markets. Prox- 
imity to navigable rivers, with their cheap trans- 
portation rates, making this a remunerative 
crop even when [)rices, are so low, that the 
inland farmer of the far west who depends en- 
tirely on railroad- freight rates, md a northern 
market, is using his surplus corn for fuel, because 
he cannot afFore to send it to market. Not only 
is this grain shipped in bulK,but in immense quan- 
tities are sent to market in the form of bacon. 

The bottom lands — and there are thousands 
of acres of them, not only adjacent to the rivers, 
but along t]iein my (•re.^^ ^ and smaller streams 
of th^^ interior, are capable of producing from 50 
to 80 bushels i)er acre. Large areas have 
averaged 100, an<l instances can be cited where 
140 bushels have been harvested from a single 
acre. 

There is but a small per cent of the higher 
lands that will not produce a good yield and the 
strong limestone soil of the central i)rat, and 
the rich prairies of the northern counties almost 
equal the alluvial bottoms in the production of 



this ^reat staple. 

Oats — This f^^raiii is successfully «T()\vn, and 
is a profitable crop in most of these cour.t'es. 
But the extreme soutiiern part is a little below 
its latitude. 

Castor Beaus — Amon^ the ?^pecial crops 
which are very profitable, may be mentioned the 
castor bean, which, in both quantity and quality? 
are unexcelled. In fact there is no phice in the 
United States wliere they do better than in the 
central counties of "Eo:ypt," where they have 
b( en very larg-ely produced for many 5'ears. 

Tobacco — All our timbered lands are adapted 
to tobacco u'rowin":, and, in years past, all the 
central and lower counties ^rew large quantities? 
but at present it is not laig-ely grown, pre- 
sumably, on account of the low prices which 
have ruled for several years. Paducah, Hender- 
son and Uniontown, Ky., are large tobacco 
markets, and the land on the Illinois side of the 
Ohio, is every re-pect equal to Kentucky soil, 
in the production of "the weed." 

Sweet Potatoes— This is a standard crop, in 
sections convenient to railroads, as the market 
is in the north. They are largely grown tor 
home consumption, in all parts of this region 
and grow to great perfection. 

Irish Potatoes — They are successfully grown 
n every county, being a si)ecialty in the country 
bordering on the Ohio river. Large shipments 
are annually made to the south. 

Little "Hardin" alone, has shipped over half 
a million bushels, in a single year! 

Grasses — Blue grass is indegenious to the 
soil. Growing in the greatest perfection, it fully 
equals that of the famed pastures of Kentucky. 
All the cultivated grasses do remarkably welb 
supplying pasturage and hay for large herds of 
stock. Hay is largely produced for export, in 



S')me localities the value of this crop is scarce- 
ly second to tliat of corn or wheat. Of late 
years orchard grass is largely "rown, y.nd 
highly valued for hay, seed and pasture. Its 
season equals in length that, of blue grass, and it 
is especially adapted to shady localities. Clover 
is a very important crop, both for hay and seed, 
making a crop of each in a single season. Used 
in rotation with wheat it is of the greatest value, 
having proven to be the only fertilizer needed 
for tlutt great staple. Since he (by of the "raz< r 
backed" hog on the range is passed clover is a 
large factor in pork raising. 

Too niu(;h cannot be said in regard to tiie 
recuperating qualities of our clay lands, through 
the use of ch)ver. Many instances could be citt d 
of the renewal of the land (by its use ah)ne) 
which had been run down by constant shallow 
culture, for fifty, or more, years. 

Vegetable Growing. 

A very large industry, and one which is 
being greatly extended every year, is ihe grow- 
ing of early vegetables for the northern markets. 
Vast quantities of spinach, peas, beans, onions, 
pieplant. Sweet and Irish potatoes, melons and 
tomatoes, etc., are grown with large profit. The 
difference in latitude between this south ern^ 
semi-tfopical region and Chicago is as great 
as between Norfolk, Va., and New York, and 
the difference in climate causes a ready mark'-t 
for our vegetables, before the same article can 
be grown at the North. 

The one item of tomatoes is simply immense. 
Growers have the plants, grown in green-houses, 
ready to bloom by the time danger of late frosts 
is past, and by so doing are able to ship ripe 
fruit at a very early date. Lands are very val- 
uable where this inJustry has been developed, 



but can be bought cheap in other localities, and 
fully as good. 

Stock Raising. 

Few localities surpass this for profitable 
stock raising. The mildness of the climate, short 
winters and abundance of water, are all favor- 
able to tiiis industry. 

Considerable outside range may still be 
found in some localities, but the tame grasses 
grow so luxuriantly that these are not often 
utilized. Blue g.-ass is indigenous to the soil 
everywhere, and affords the choicest pasturage 
from March to December. Corn fodder, and the 
vast quantities of wheat straw are utilized to a 
considerable extent, as also the native cane in 
some localities. 

The raising of horses and mules is carried 
on quite largely, in connection with other agri- 
cultural interests. Ail the various breeds of 
heavy draft horses are bred in perfection. And 
some as fine roadsters as are produced in Ken- 
tucky, or any other state, are raised here. 

The cattle industry has grown to large 
proportions. All the popular beef and butter 
breeds are bred, and ea<'h is highly appreciated. 
There is room for greatly extending this enter- 
prise. 

Sheep do well in this climate. As all sheep 
killed by dogs are paid for out of the tax 
(collected on the curs) danger Irom loss in that 
direction is removed, and sheep husbandry 
should be one of our most profitable industries. 

Hogs are raised on every farm, in greater or 
less numbtirs. With cheap corn, abundant 
clover, and proximity to market, pork-raising is 
no small factor in the farmers' profits. 
Horticulture. 

This is Pomona's home— From the earliest 



strawberry to the latest apple, a constant 
succession of all the fruits of th- Temperate zone 
are grown in the greate-.t variety and perfection. 
This induststry is yet in its infancy, but has 
reached dimensions that are almost incredible. 

During the season the railroad lines run 
trains of refrigerator cars, and the northern 
markets are largely supplied from this section. 

Beginning with tlie strawberry in early May 
on through the succtes.'-ion of currants, goose- 
berries, dewberries, cht?rries, early apples, rasp- 
berries, blackberries, plums, apricots, peaches, 
pears, grapes, quinces, till last, but by no means 
least, comes the standard fruit of every year — 
apples. Almost all leading varieties grow to 
perfection^ yet a specialty is made of some of the 
most popular market sorts. Notably: Early 
Hjirvf'st, as first of the season Mid Be)» Davis, 
Winesap and others, as latest. 

This is undoubtedly one of our remunerative 
crops, and brings more money than any other, 
except wheat and corn. 

The tre.^s come into bearing much earlier 
than in regions farther north and east, fre- 
quently yielding considerable fruit when six or 
seven years old. We can say, without boasting, 
that our apple orchards pay better than the 
orange groves of Florida or Calitornia. 

The windy western states, that head their 
flaming advertising, "The land of Big Red 
Apples," should see that we raise car-loads while 
they raise ba?-rels. 

Peaches — Perhaps there is not as. much said 
through the public print about the peaches of 
Soutliern Illinois, as those of Delaware, South 
Jersey or California, yet none o.f these excel us 
in the production of this luscious fruit, and we 
have not to wait several years for our trees to 
come into bearing, as is the case farther east. 



Trees have been grown the first season from 
the bud one and a lialf inches in diameter, and 
have borne fruit the next year. A full crop is 
usual on two-year-old buds, and trees are very 
long'-lived. We average about three full crops 
in five years. A total failure is unknown. 

Grapes — Vineyards abound throughout this 
entire region, and the vine is remarkably heal- 
thy and productive wherever grown. Almost 
every family grows a home supply, and in 
certain localities they are very largely grown as 
an article of commerce. Undoubtedly one of the 
most remunerative fruits produced. 

Strawberries — We might commence with 
that <^ft quoted saying of a certain enthusiastic 
admirer of this fruit, but will do nothing of the 
kind; just simply say, "Everybody wants straw- 
berries," ai;d will have them, and we are able to 
furnish them in unlimited quantities and unex- 
celled in quality. 

Twenty-five years ago a field of texi acres of 
strawberries was considered something wonder- 
ful in extent. And so it was when this industry 
was in its infancy, but now it takes a 40 or 80 
acre field to attract attention. 

Think of a full train of more than twenty 
refrigerator cars, loaded with strawberries alone, 
goiiig over a single line, every day for weeks in 
succession, and somp idea may be gained of the 
extent of this one branch of horticulture. No 
other industry distributes more money in the 
same length of time, as it requires a small army 
of pickers and box -makers, besides iiiany other 
laborers, to prepnre the fruit for market. 

Other fruits — Space forbids a special mention 
of each fruit produced. Suffice it to say, they 
are all very profitably grown in their season, are 
of the finest quality, and both demand and pro- 
duction are increasing annuallv. 



Manufactures. 

These interests are large and varied, and 
while numerous and prosperous, there is room 
for more in every department. 

Converting the large crops of wheat into 
flour is one of the leading interests. Fine roller 
mills are scattered all over the region, from two 
or three in a small county up to twenty or more 
in the larger. Some of these mills have a ca- 
pacity of 500 to 650 barrels of flour per day. The 
quality of the product is second to none. 

The lumber interest is very great, and citie-; 
and towns adjacent to rivers and railroads have 
many larjje, fine saw mills; besides these, are 
many in the forests, remote from public 
thoroughfares. 

Many establishments are engaged in manu- 
facturing a superior article of wagon and car- 
riage material from our native woods. The 
unsurpassed quality of the oak, hickory and 
locust causes the product to rank as strictly 
first class. 

The manufacture of barrels, and barrel 
material is very large, both for home consump- 
tion and export. 

An interest of no small dimensions is the 
manufactory of fruit-box material, large fact- 
ories being located at various points convenient 
to the sections devoted to fruit culture. 

Furniture factories are numerous, and, with 
the abundance and variety of excellent timber, 
suitable for the finest work, and the facilities for 
transporting both tbe material and manufactured 
product, the industry is quite remunerative. 
Fine openings exist for an increase in this 
branch. 

The Singer Sewing ^Machine Co. have, at 
Cairo, a plant for the manuf cture of the wood- 
work for their various factories, and are using 



vast quantities of native Sweet or Red Gum. 

Many limekilns are in operation, not only 
for domestic supply, but largely for export. 

Potteries are numerous, and noted for the 
excellent quality of their ware, which is in large 
demand to supply the southern trade. 

Several eastablishments are devoted to the 
manufacture of the various sorts of handle^', ax, 
pick, shovel, etc. A s[)ecialty is made of plow- 
handles, which are shipped in immense quan- 
tities to all points of the compass. 

Carriages and wn irons are manufactured af 
various points, and there are tine openings for 
the investment of capital in this line, both on 
account of the excellence of material and trans- 
portaton facilities. 

Almost every < onsiderar.le town has an 
establishment for wool manufacture. This 
should be one of our best paying enterprises. 

Creameries are very profitably conducted in 
many sections, and is a growing industry. 
Abundant room for hundreds more. 

Of canneries, evaporators, preserving and 
jelly making, there are numbers in various 
localities. These could be protitably multiplied 
many times. 

Cigars and tobacco are quite largely manu- 
factured at srme points and the product ranks 
high among consumers. 

The different branches of manufacture from 
iron and steel are well represented at East St. 
Louis, Belleville, Centralia, Grand Tower, Cairo, 
IVletropolis and other points, besides these are 
many smaller foundry and machine shops. 

Building and repairing steamV)oats, barges, 
etc., is an excellent paying branch of our 
industries, and one which invites capital. The 
marine ways at Mound City, Pulaski county, is 



Illinois Central Railroad Bridge 

Across the Ohio at C'airo. 




THE CONNECTING lilJNK BETWEEN 'nil) NORTH 
AND SOUTH. TOTAL LENGTH, INCLl'DING 
APPROACHES, FOCR MILIOS. TOTAL COST, 

JjU,0OO,0O0. 



the principal one now in operation, giving em- 
ployment to several hundred laborers. 

Railroad repair shops are located at Cairo, 
Mt. Carmel; Centralia, Belleville and East St. 
Louisa, and in the aggregate employ several 
thousand workmen. 

The employes of all these industries (and 
many not enumerated) and their families, create 
an excellent home market for the products of 
the soil. 

Transportation. 

By navigable rivers we have a direct outlet 
North, by t!ie :Mississippi and Wabash; West, by 
the Missouri; South, by the Mississippi, Tenne- 
see and Cumberland, and East by the Ohio. 
These are all ()[)en to navigation nearly the 
entire year. The lower Mississippi, Tennesee 
and Cumberland are never closed. 

When to tliese we add thirty railroacls, 
traversing the country in all directions, nothing 
need be added in regard to our unequaled facil- 
ities for transportation. 

While we hear complain rs of extortionate 
rates in other sections, where there is little or no 
competition, nothing of the kind exists here. 
When coal is delivered at the principal river 
points so as to be sold at one dollar per ton, and 
when twenty-four quart crates of berries are 
carried 250 miles for fifteen cents, there i- cer- 
tainly no cause for complaint. 

Public Debt, Taxes, Etc. 

Of these thirty-four counties, eight are with- 
out debt. Seven have a debt of more than 
1100,000 each. The remaining nineteen have 
small iidebtedness, but, in most cases, their 
available resources are sufficient to cancel all 
indebtedness. 

The state constitution forbids the voting of 
subsidies by counties or corporations, thus ren- 



dering if impossible to burden the people with 
excessive taxition, as is the case in many of the 
western states. 

Taxation is as low as is compatible with the 
support of our excellent free schools, and the 
noble charities of which we are justly proud. 
Our system of equalization, gives to the less 
populous counties more "school money" than 
they pay in all taxes combined. 

An item of no small interest to the tax-payer 
is the special tax of 7 per cent on the gross earn- 
ings of the Illinois Central railroad, which 
amounts to about $500,000 per year. Our state 
now ranks third in population, but is second to 
none in its laws and the management of its 
affairs. 

Health. 

There is certainly no question of more im- 
portance to the home-seeker than that of the 
healthfuiness of the country. 

An impression went abroad in the early set- 
tlement of "Egypt" that it was a perfect hot-bed 
of malaria. But it must be remembered that the 
tir-t settlers chose their homes in the rich 
alluvial lands adjacent to rivers, lived in log 
cabins, sometimes without either floors or win- 
dows, drank water from the streams, or from 
rude cisterns, which were but holes in the 
ground, without brit-k or cement, and their 
principal food was the traditional "hog and 
hominy." People living thus had malaria, of 
course, so they had in the valleys of the Sciota, 
the Miama, and almost every stream having 
alluvial bottoms. IJut, as soon as they 
were brought under cultivation, they became 
healthy. That there is still maiaria in some 
localities, we do not deny, but those who live (as 
most people do) in comfortable houses, with 



proper sanitary reofulations, enjoy as good health 
here as anywhere. 

The whole country is noted for its old people, 
liale and happj", living the full measure of their 
days in this genial climate. 

A case of consumption, originating here, is 
almost unknown. jNIany threatened with 
that dire disease have left other localities 
and have hecome strong and healthy in this 
salui)ri;'us climate. 

Churches. 

Cliurch spires i)oint heavenward from every 
city :nid viihige — and not Irom tiiese alone, but 
tlie whole country is ciottedover with neat, com- 
fortable houses of worship, It is impossible to 
give exact figures but approximately. The Bap- 
tist church has over five hundred organizations. 
Tile Methodist Episcopal more than four hun- 
dred. The Presbyterian has near one hundred. 
The Psalm-Singing branches, united and re- 
formed, give fully thirty in addition, while the 
Cumberhmd is quite strong in numbers and 
organizations. Tiie Roman Cathcjlic church is 
very strong, especially m the printiipal cities, 
and the old French settlements. 

The German element in the population is 
large anil they liave brought from the "Father- 
land," not only their proverbial industry and 
thrift, but their religion also, and have built 
many fine, substantial houses of worship, in 
which services are conducted in their native 
language. 

This southern part of the "Springfield 
Diocese" has many elegant Episcopal churches, 
each the home of a congregation of devout 
worshipers. 

Churches of the Christian denomination 
(sometimes called Disciples, or Reformers) are 



quite nuiiicroiis jiud pro.^pt rou-. 

Conjj^ie.uatioiial, United rethrpn, and -everal 
other d^'iioniinatioiis are also well re|)resente(l, 
and every one may find iMose of kindled f iith. 

The various denominations are a-dively en- 
ga^-ed in all tjie ditiVrent hrancdu-s of (diurch 
work, and aie exei'tin^' an inueeasnrahie in- 
Ih.enec for .u-ood. Illinois is i he ''15:11. nor Slate" 
in Sunilay scliool work an.l the southern pari 
does her fu'I sliare. 

Schools. 

No state has 
a hot ler sehool 
law than Illi- 
nois. K V e r y 
pnlilic s(di o o i 
mnsi he tan*;ht 
not les>r tlian 
il\ e moiiihs of 
. (d) year and 
\ (^vy (diiid be- 
l\\ een the age 

state Normal, Carbondale. 

of seven and fourteen years, is compelled to at- 
tend sidiool at least sixteen weeks enri) year. 

For tea(diers, the standard is veiy high. 
Ea'di e >unty liolds a te ichers' institule annually. 
These are conducted by th - best educatoi's of the 
state. 

The log scdioolhouse and the prdag<'g"c who 
taught the tk.ree "R's," aic thing- of (he past. 
Each (li>tri<d now takes j)ride in a neat, modei'U 
schoolhouse, and the incompetent aspirant fails 
to receive a teaclu-r's certifirate. 

All cities and tow ns of any cm i:si(i{ rabh^ .size 
have a fine system of gi-aded sch<»ols. Graduates 
fr«>m these have quite a liberal education, -'nd 
are well titted to enter higher institutions of 
learning, of ndiicii we have many. 





Among tlK^Sv^ mny be mentioned the State 

N o r m n ! :>. t 
Carl)o n <1 a 1 e, 
]<U'kson coun- 
ty; :>rcKen- 
(■!•;•<>. L ('!):;- 
on, St. (-lair 
i;unty; Ilay- 
y.\\\\ Cullege, 
F -A 1 r ti e !d, 
»Vayne coui:- 
" y ; E win «v 
"<'ll<'i:e, !-^\ - 
liig, Frnuklin 
county; Mon- 
icclW. female 
oiic;:;', (Jo'- 
,ri'y, Maiiison 

Hay ward Collar:-, F^irfie! i. 

■ --Uy; Shurtleif College, Alton, Tdadison 
^•"ir.ry; U ion Academy, Anna, Unio i county; 
St .Maui Femal<! College, IMt. Carmel, \Val>:t,sh 
county; Pansii Academy, Belleville, St. Clair 
county; Lort^tto Femal;^ Academy, ('airo, Alex- 
ander county ; ( 'v.nd)er] iiid Pres'oyterian College, 
,Enii(>!(I, White county; Civ^al Spring Seminary, 
Crea! Spring, Williamson county. 

T*<'-^idcs tl;'S'> are ui-n^y priv-Ue scliools, both 
m^le and IVmaie, at <.irfvr;"nt points. 

Society. 

It must ]!ot l>v» -•up})i)S >d tliit this is a new 
country, witii so-iety 5:e( essariiy in a (diaotic 
st: to. Nor a r 'gion whosx^ inhabitants ro 
stvai^gers to the refin.'m<Mits of so^drd ife. Far 
from it. 

While all classes may find congenial society, 
the educated and refined are in an over whelnj- 
ing n'aj' rity, and th.e ]^! w-abidinir eh n;eid i-^ 
consequently so sirong lliat hiwlessness and 



crime are firmly held in check. Several counties 
have no liceijsed saloons, and in the jnajority 
liquor is sokl only in larger towns. 

The various fraternal societies are very 
strong and influential. But we call special at-- 
tention to our numerous churches and schools, 
which are the pride of our citizens. The in- 
fluence constantly exerted by these reaches 
every class. 

The emigrant to the far west will wait many 
h)ng years for such advantages as exist here at 
present. 

"Sum of the Whole Matter." 

Since the day of the Cherubin and flaming 
sword were placed at the East of Eden, man 
has liA'i no earthly paradise; yet some places 
approach nearer than others, and there is cer- 
tainly no place, where there are more of the ele- 
ments necessary to form another Eden, tl an 
abounds here. We have a most genivj climate, 
and a soil suited to a greater variety (^f products 
than can be found in a?iy other sect on. We 
have timl) e r, 
coal and iron 
in the greatest 
ab u n d a n c e, 
w i r li pie n t y 
of the other 
i in p o r t a n t 
minerals, na- 
tural gas and 
nalure's o w n 
healing toun- 
tains. Our lo- 
cation is most 1= 
central, giving * 
us a c c e s s to ~~ 

Union Academy, Anna. 

the best markets to both North and South, while 




our nav gable rivers and immerous lines of rail- 
road afford Linequaled facilities for commerce. 

And now, we beg others to come and help us 
develop this land, so favored by nature, and 
share its prosperity, and while doing this, we 
claim to be the richest beggars on earth. Our 
visible natur-d wealth is as great as that of any 
other section, but our underground wealth is be- 
yond computation. We invite capital to aid in 
the development of all these natural resources. 
All industries are remunerative in a greater or 
less degree, and manufacturer, miner and pro- 
ducer, alike, find ready markets and lowest 
rates of transportation. 

The question very naturally arises, "What is 
the value of land in this favored stction?'' The 
answer is rather difficult, as the price of land is 
as variable as its quality. Of course, land in 
proximity io cities, and that which is devoted to 
horticulture is the highest, butyet the valuationis 
not excessive. Choice farming land in the 
vicinity of St. Louis can be bought for $100 per 
acre. And from that figure, according to 
location, down to Jf?5 for good unimproved land; 
5)^10 to |15 per acre for that which has been 
partly improved, and, in nearjy every county, 
well improved farms may be purchased at ^15 to 
$25 per acre, which in many c^^ses, will include 
one or more good veins of coal under the whole 
tract. 



I"" 




Massac County Cour!: House, Metropolis. 



Massa.c County. 
Xo comuy in St utiiern iiliiiois h,<s more 
njitur:il ;;(lvimt;'..<i:('H {\\i\u rJassric. Situated on 
the extreme soiiriu-rn l)()r(;{M-, it Iihs a I'ronta.u'e on 
the Ohio river (»f :;i)nnt thirty niih's, heojnninjj: 
ten miles above Padm-ali, Ky., and exl('ri(iin«i- to 
wiiiii;) (iiir.y mi:( h of Cniro. The ((Mtnty lies 
]n a;i iri-c.uular shapi', ii;;vi!,«i^ an extreFne width 
of l)Ut eii^hteen miles, and an ;*rea of 117,784 
aeres. Lyini^: between the two southern spurs of 
tiie Ozark hills it has an averao'e elevation of 



about four iuimired fei;4 above the Gulf. The 
surface is generally rolling, or gentl> undulating, 
giving perlVet drainage and making it excee<!- 
ingly well adapted tor agrieulture, horticultui'e 
and stock-raising ali of which are carried on 
w ith success and |>i'ofit by i rural population of 
about 8000, 8itaated as Massac county is, as far 
south as Richmond, Va., it offers Ihe emigrant a 
(dimate peculiarly attractive. It is not too far 
South, nor yet too near the North Pole, and is 
consequendy exempt from tue tierce heat of the 
.Souche n summers as well as the deadly l)liz- 
z:'.r.is of thi^ North and Northwest. It may in 
other words be said to lie in the perfect gcjlden 
mean between the two extremes, while it 
actually p.udaices of the chara.cteristics and ad- 
vantages of both and lias but few of the disad- 
vantages or disagreejdjle features ol either. The 
sod varies considerably in ditiei-ent localities, 
from the dee[), blacK, rich loam of the bottoms 
to the lighter clay loam of the uplands and hills. 
Fully nine-tenths of the county may be said to be 
susceptable of cultivation, and very little labor 
and outi ly would reclaim almost every acre in a 
short time. The Soil is underlaid with a stiff clay 
subsoil and sufficient calcareous matter i- con- 
tained to cause i to produce whejit and ali the 
cereals in abundance, and these foi m the staple 
j)roductions. No stone is found on, or near the 
surface, t;- intt I'lVre wit.i cultivation. Originally 
the entire surface of the county was tindsered. 
A!)out one-haif is still covered with timber, such 
varieties as oak, ash, popular, hicdvory and cotton- 
wood predonnnating, all of wdiich are ve»y val- 
uable from a commercial .'dandpoint and will in 
many instaiiCes j>ay the {)ur(diaser o^' lands a 
handsome [)rotit and l^ave him his farm free of 
cost. There are no injportant water courses in 
Massac county, although a number of small 



streams are found, valuable for drainage pur- 
poses and the stock water which they afford. 
Water is ol/taiued anywhere, however, in wells 
at a depth of from 20 to 80 teet, and of a most 
pure and excellent quality. Wheat, corn, oats, 
sweet and Irish potatoes, rye, timothy, clover, 
hun.i^arian ;^rass, millet, sorghum, apples, r.eaches, 
pears, grapes, strawberries and other sn)all fruits, 
as well as vegetables of almost every kind, are 
grown in profusion, and the oldest settler does 
not remember a total failure of crop^. The popu- 
lation is principally made up of white people, 
among them being many German farmers, whose 
well-known habits of industry, thrift and 
economy make them specially valuable to any 
section in which they locate. 

There are in the county thirty churches, and 
all the leading denominations are represented. 
The county is subdivided into forty-three school 
districts, an i sixly-five teachers are actually 
employed. All the ordinary farnj crops are 
g^own profitably, but wheat is the leading crop 
— more than one-half of all the cultivated land 
being seeded to this cereal. The soil of this 
section will, and has in many cases produced 
from ten to twenty crops in succession without 
any falling off in yield, and that too, without any 
fertilizing; yet clover should be sown on each 
crop and plo.ved under, to insure continued fer- 
tility. Seasons like the present produce a heavy 
crop the same season that it is sown, and much 
is being turned under that would make from one 
to two tons per acre, from seed sown on wheat last 
spring, Thie usual practice is to seed to clover 
once in three or four years. Let the first growth 
the loUowing year make hay, and the second 
seed. This is quite as profitable as a crop of 
wheat. 

Corn is the second grain in importance, and 



is profituble on jill varieties of land, but the 
alluvial land adjacent to streams is espe'*ially 
well adapted to its growth. 

All grasses are at home in this soil and cli- 
mate, and hay is an important crop. Blue grass 




is indigenous and of great value for pasturage. 
Within the past few years .lapanese clover is 
spreading rapidly along highways. 

The pecan is a native of the alluvial lands, 
and the nuts are an exceedingly profitable crop. 



A special crop of greMt iniportance is tlie 
growing- of top onion sets. Tiiis is very profit- 
able and is :.eing rapidly extended. The soil of 
Massac is second to none for the production of 
fruit, and since the completion of a direct rail- 
road line to the North, fruit-growing is fast 
coming to the front. Thousands <>f apple, peach, 
pear and other fruit trees are being planted. This 
is a most i)romising industry. 

Items of Interest. 

A short list of good yields may be of interest. 
Hundreds might be coUectted, but the few will 
suffice. 

On his fa'-m in the west end of the county, 
Judge James C. Courtney, the peresent year 
raised 125 acres of wheat which averaged thirty- 
eight and two-fifths bushels per ticre. 

John Stewart made 910 bushels <,f wheat 
from only 20 acres of land — 45 bushels per acre. 

Bill Sexton comes to the front with 2005 
bushels of wheat from 50 acres of land. 

J. D. Kennedy, near Jopf)a, threshed 29 
bushels per acre from land which had been in 
constant cultivafion more than fifty years. No 
fertilizers were ever applied, ani the land was 
sown to c over but once. 

B. Sext(/n, of the same vicinity, raised 41 
bushels of wheat per acre, two successive years, 
on the same land. 

John Aderson, of the same section had 102 
bushels from two acres. 

J. D. McElya, of near Metropolis, raised 
140 1-2 bushels of corn on one acre. He also 
took the $25 prize of Wm. H. Maule, of Phila- 
delphia, for the best cantelope — weight 28 1-2 
pounds. 

Near the same place, S. H. Johnson took $15 
premium for the best yield of tomatoes, and $50 



premium on largest yield of Japanese buck- 
wheat (a product belonging to a cool climate). 
He sowed one i)ounn and reaped 364 pounds. 

These premiums were offered by Wm. H. 
Maule and com})etition was open to the world. 

D, H. Freeman gathered 125 barrels per acre 
of ai>ples from an orchard that had been set 
eleven years. The land had been in cultivation 
more than seventy years, no fertilizers having 
ever been applied. 

John Oakes, from an acre of Ohio river 
melon land, netted over »$200. Entire cost of 
prcxluction was less than ^10, 

L. C. AjcBride has a cherry tree some forty 
years old, (Jiameter two and- a half feet; spread 
of^ branches over thirty feet. This tree has 
borne from full to very full crops annually, since 
it first came into bearing, with but two or three 
exceptions. Forty dollars worth of fruit has 
been -old froni it in a single season, and the tree 
is still in good condition. The correct name or 
variety is not known. 

F. N. Kirk 
raised 8 00 
bus h e I & of 
early Iri s h 
potatoes t o 
t h e a c r e, 
without the 
use of com- 
mercial fer- 
tilizers, with 
only o r d i- 

Sweet Potato. 

nary cultivation. No extra efforts having been 
put forth, or extra yield sought. 

Robert Williams, a practical gardner, in the 
autumn of '91 planted a crop of potato onions. 







Last spring-, between the rows, early cabhage; 
after that, sweet corn, and a crop of turnips will 
yet be produced on this same j^rrijund; making 
four crops in one year and all good. 

These "items" might be multiplied almost 
indefinitely, they will give an idea of the pro- 
ductiveness of the soil, and its value for agricul- 
ture and horticulture in general, and prove that 
this county has indeed great inducements to 
offer those who are seeking homes in a mild 
climate. 

Less than four years have elapsed s nee the 
completion of the first railroad through this 
county. A direct line from St. Louis to Paducah, 
Ky., which traverses the county aboyt 24 miles. 
As the line passes through the most undesirable 
part of the county immediately after entering it, 
the traveler's first impressions niay not be favor- 
able. Neither will he appreciate the little city 
of Metropolis, the county seat of Massac, as the 
railroad barely touches the extreme rear 
suburbs, trien curves east toward its terminus at 
Brooklyn, seven miles above on the river bank. 

The vast forests adjacent to the railroad are 
fast disappearing before the lumbermen and 
saw-mills, and soon, in their stead, will appear 
fine productive farms. Yet this timber is a 
great source of wealth to the county, as immense 
quantities of ship and bridge timber, railroad 
coach and car material, furniture, carriage and 
wagon material, plow, ax and pick handles, pipe, 
ho4shead and barrel staves and headings, etc., 
are annually manufactured for export. 

The county has no outstanding indebtedness; 
its warrants are worth their face value, and the 
rate of taxation is low. 

Metropolis City. 

Metropolis the county seat of Massac county, 



is situated on tlie l)ank of the Ohio river, and for 
l)eauty of location is not surpassed by any eity in 
the valley of the Oiiio. From tlie riverside there 
is a gradual rise for a distance of nine hh)cks 



--?"-^ Mil 




I 



when tlie hio-hest point is reached 89 feet above 
low water mark. From thence a gradual decline 
in the opposite direction affords perfect natural 
drainage and adds greatly to the attractiveness 
of the site. 



The streets, which are ei<?hty and one hun- 
dred feet wide, with sidewalks (>f«j:eiierous widtli, 
are beautifully L-raded and j>raveled, and such is 
the character of the j^riwel or con<^lonierate 
(found in iiiexhaustable quantities within the 
corporation) that it becomes almost as hard as 
j:,n'anite. Mud and dust are impossible on these 
streets, and as a hard rain washes them perfectly 
clean, the sanitary condition of the city is of the 
best. 

The city is 
f u r n i s h e d 
with the most 
approved sys- 
tem of water- 
wo r k s and 
electric light 
plant. 

Metropolis 
is emphatic- 
ally a city of 
"homes." The 
great major- 
ity of the citi- 
zens own the 
res i d e n c e s 
which they 
occupy, and a 
laudable 
pride is taken 
in neat and 
tasteful build- 

Standpipe. Heigth, 104 Feet. 

ings, made doubly attractive by grounds orna- 
mented with trees, shrubbery and flowers: 

As places of public recreation, there are 
within the corporation three parks; and in the 
suburbs beautiful groves, the fair grounds and 
the historic site of Old Fort Massac, which occu- 




pies a commandino- position on the river bank 
just above the city. 

The population is about 4,000 and is gener- 
ally made up of a very superior class, hence 
society is excellent, and but few places of like 
size have a population more highly cultivated 
and refined. 

The city has eight churches. The denomi- 
nations are M-thodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, 
Evangelical Lutheran (German), Congregational, 
Baptist, Christi- n, African M. E., and African 
Missionary Baptist. These all occupy neat and 
commodious houses of worship. An unfailing 
index to the character and worth of the com- 
munity. 

In addition to these are organizations of both 
Episi opal and Catholic, who have no buildings 
at present, but contemplate erecting substantial 
modern style churches in the near future. 

The Fraternal societies are represented by 
flourishing lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, 
Grand Army Posts and others. 

An elegant opera house turnishes facilities 
for lectures, concerts and dramatic entertain- 
ments. 

The city supports a good system of graded 
schools, nine months in the year. The white 
school is held in a handsome tiiree-story man- 
sard roof, brick building, with eleven rooms, 
heated by steam, and having natural slate l>lack- 
boards, new and improved furniture and appar- 
atus. A highschool course of four years fits its 
pupils for active life. The high school is supplied 
with complete philosophical and chemical 
apparatus ot the latest kind. Connected with 
the system of education a colored school of three 
rooms in a handsome brick building, comfort- 
ably fitted up for the same length of time. There 
are twelve teachers employed in the white 



schools, and the enrollment for the past year 
was 687. The eolor^d st'hool requires the ser- 
vices of tlire< teachers and enrolls 228 [)iipils, 
and the City superintendent niakin<^ a corps of 
sixteen tea(diers. 

Metropolis has two strong- and <jarefuliy 
manao:ed hmks. The oldest beinjj: that of 




Public School Building, 75 Feet Square, U Rooms, Cost 
$26,000. 



Brown & Bruner, established in 1870, This firm 
has ample ('apital and large and varied exper- 
ience in banking. Total liabilities to depositors, 
.$179,000. Totel assets near $300,000. 

The First National bank was established in 



1881. Tliis hank is amply ea[)italizf-fl and enjoys 
the well merited confidence of the puhlie. Total 
assets $225,000. Total liabilities $129,500. ' 

The manufacturino^ interests are lar^e and 
varied. Proniinent amon*;- these are the saw 
mills of Wm. Towh^ & Co., erected in 18G7 at a 
cos<^ of $105,000. These are the larj^est and most 
complete hard-wood saw mills in the state, the 
mills and yards cover an area often acres, and 
give employment to two hundred and fifty 
men. 

A specialty is m ide of lonof g^ang-sawed oak 
for ship and steamboat buildino-. Material is 
furnished to every ship-yard on the Mississippi 
river, and on the Missouri as far west as 
Bismark. 

This tirm also manufactures the beautiful 
"embossed wood," which is so much admired for 
ornamental finishini^:. 

:Massa. Iron Co., e.-stablished in 1S8S. Cost of 
plant $65,000- Capacity at i)resent, 80 tons per 
day, but will soon be enlarg-ed to a 50 ton plant. 
The firm manufactures all kinds of water and 
gas pipe, employing about eighty men. The 
situation is peculiarly favorable for iron indus- 
tries, as freight rates are very low, owing to 
river and rail competition and nearness to iron 
and coal fields. 

Hub and spoke factory of Yost, Bigelow & 
Co. Establishe.l in 1865. Manufacturers of all 
kinds of wagon and carriage wood-work, Sarvin 
patent wheels, ax, pick, sledge and plow handles. 
Capital invested in plant $100,000. Employ sev- 
enty-five men the year around, and use from 
1,500,000 to 2,000,000 feet ot oak and hickory lum- 
ber yearly. The plant covers an area of 75,000 
square feet. 

Riverside mills of H. Quante & Bro. Built 



1881 .-It -A (-(-St of .1^50,000. Capacity 200 hnrrcls 
]>('i- (l.iv. This hiiildinj: is a substantial brick, five 
stoiics in liciiiib, containing- lull roller machinery 
orth(^ latcsr and bt^st pattern. Employ 20 nn-n. 

Eni}:ire mills, Austin & Co., pr()i)i;ietors. 
Cost of plant iflo^OOO. Ca^ncity 7') bnrrcls i)er 




(lay. Employ ciLiht hiun's. The mills are of 
brick, Ihe iuachiaery lirst class, and the product 
equal to (he best. 

Krapi'r's ci^ar factory emi)loys thirty hands, 
and manufactures 100,000 cigars per month. 

PoTtery, Fireorick and Tile manufactory of 
N. Shick. Cost of plant $10,000. Employs about 



twenty men. 

CreHinery, owned and operated hy a stock 
company. Capacity 400 pounds \wr day. 

Woolen factory — Eniploys eight hands. Cost 
of phi nr $10,000. 

Bes'des these there are numerous industries, 
amono: which may be mentioned: Foundry, 
machine shop, two saw mills, two stave and 
heading? factories, two plow handle factories, 
three wajj^on and repair shops, two brick-yards, 
manufacturing tinners, sheet iron workers, etc. 

Some six'y mercantile establishments, em- 
bracing all the different branches. 
Good hotels, livery stables, etc. 
Besides Metropolis there are several smaller 
towns. These are Brooklyn, Big Bay, Samoth, 
Joppa, New Columbia, Round Knob and Union- 
ville. 

The sum of the advantages (»f Massac 
county.— A mild and salubrious climate, a rich, 
productive soil, an abundance of pure, .\hole- 
s me water; timber for building, fencing and 
fuel, a low rate of taxation and an honest, care- 
ful administration of county affairs, excellent 
church facilities, good schools, cheap lands to be 
had on reasonable terms, great inducements to 
manufacturers, the best of shipping facilities by 
rail or river, and an orderlj^, law-abiding, indus- 
trious and progressive population. 

The object of this phamphlet is not that of 
"booming,' but to give plain facts for the benefit 
of those who may be contemplating emigrating 
from their present homes to a country where the 
conditions of life are more favorable. 

We need a eanninji factory and a steam 
evaporating establishment, and can offer induce- 
ments to parties who will locate here. A fruit 
and produce dealer could do well. We have 
plenty of room for all who will cast their lot with 



us, eitlior as manufactures, irierchants or f.Mrniers. 
Conic and enjoy some of the hlessinos that the 
Lord lias bestowed upon us. 

D. H. Freemax, 
See'y. Massac County Fruit Growers Ass'n. 



NOTICE. 

The cuts of Massac county are not what I 
contracted for. They (h)n't do justice to our 
city, and es})ecially to oui- line graveled streets. 
Some are so had they can't be used. I furnished 
o-ood clean cut photos. Here is what w-as 
promised: 

"We will mak< you <i'(v>d cuts. We g-uarantee 
our work." Western Ieli\strating Co., 

71) Dearborn Street, Ciiicago, III. 
— L). H. Freeman. 



ELIJAH p. CURTIS, 

REAL ESTATE AGENT 

AND CONVEYANCER. 

Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois. 

ABSTRACT OFFICE IN BLOCK 
SOUTH OF COURT HOUSE. 

Will Pay Taxes for Non-Residents, and 
Assist them to Sell or lu.v Eeal Est? te. Having- 
lull eonrrol of the Abstract Rooks of this County, 
I can lurnish Abstracts of Title for Land and 
Lots situated in INLtssac County, 

ON KEASONABLr- TERM. . 
Fees for Abstracts of Title to be Paid in Advance. 

LANDS ANDLOT^^ FOR SALE 



SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 

State Normal 




^^"Terms beo'in September 12, 1892, Jan- 
uary 2, 1893, and March 27, 1893. For catalogues, 
etc., address 

JOHN HULL, Regent, 

Carbondaie, IlL 



ht. Louis and Cairo Short Line. 

ST. LOUIS & PADUCAH RY. 

(ST. L. A. «t T. H. R. R. CO ) 

Offers Superior Facilities 

P'Oli THE 

TraniBortaian of Both FreiiM aiiil Passeiikors 

BETWEEN THE 

^oi'tl} and Psjortl^wegt 

And the 

SOUTH and SOUTHEAST 



riir Steel ilail aiul Ballast Road Bed, together with 
the suburb Equipment and Through Car Serviee has long 
placed this Koite in the tront rank as 

A FIRST GLASS PASSENGER ROUTE. 



And the through Freight Car Lines operated by this 
popular route among all Shippers. For rates and all other 
information call on the nearest Agent, or address 

GEO. E. LAKY, 
General Freight and Passenger Agent. 
GEO. W. PARKER, President ai d General Manager. 

ST. LOUIS, MO. 




-^^ 



